Look! We're Learning!

Early Learning. Happy Teaching.

  • Shop
  • Printables
  • Homeschool
  • Crafts
  • Parenting
  • Blog

7 Ways to Help Kids Prepare for A First Summer Camp

May 31, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Going away to summer camp can be a little scary or intimidating for some children. And it’s not just children who may be a little uneasy. Parents can be too!

Our oldest is going to summer camp for the first time this year. Well, actually, she’s doing three of them this year: tennis camp, STEAM camp, and web development camp. And both she and I are a little nervous.

As homeschoolers, we can get so used to spending time with one another that going to “class” can be a strange experience. Actually, that’s one of the reasons why my husband and I have decided to enroll her in camp in the first place. It’s time to start spreading her wings…just a tiny bit.

How to Prepare Your Child for a First Summer Camp

So that’s why I wanted to share these seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp. If your child is dreading the day they leave instead of counting down the days, try these tips to help them calm down, look on the bright side, and get excited about what they’ll learn!

Summer camp is a beautiful time for kids to come together and learn and grow, and make lasting memories they will cherish for a lifetime. It’s entirely rational for a child to be scared the first year or two. These tools below can be used to help your child see the possibility of the best summer ever.

Looking for more ways to make summer awesome? Don’t miss our list of super fun, super easy summer crafts for kids!

Ready to send your child off to camp for the first time? Here are seven ways to help prepare your child for a first summer camp!

Images c/o: sernovik & pyotr021 via depositphotos

7 Ways To Prepare Your Child for A First Summer Camp

Personal Experience

Sit down and share your own experience of summer camp from when you were a kid. Let them know what a fun time you had, and the memories that you still have today. Don’t focus on any negatives but let them know how fun it was. You can also share if you were scared at first and how good it turned out for you.

Personally, neither my husband nor I went to summer camp as kids. But we did go to public school and we’ve used those experiences to help prepare our kids for their time away from us. It always seems to help.

It’s OK To Be Nervous

Remind your child it’s okay if they are a little nervous to go. It’s natural to miss home or be a bit anxious to leave your parents. But once they arrive at the camp and settle in, they will start having a great summer.

For our daughter, we went with a first summer camp that is located at a center she’s already familiar with and offered by instructors she already knows. Some of the kids in those classes will also be at the camp, so she’ll have a warm welcome right away.

Let Your Child Have a Say

If you’ve decided that summer camp will be a good experience for your kids, don’t be quick to let them talk you out of it. BUT – it is wise to let them have some input in what kind of camp they’ll attend and where it is located.

In our family, we chose camps that covered topics our daughter was already interested in. So, while she’s a bit nervous for the first day, she’s also looking forward to learning more about topics she knows she likes.

Camping Buddy

Consider talking to your child’s best friend’s parents and see if they are going to camp. If they are you can reassure your child, they will know someone. Or talk to other parents and find a few people your kiddo will know that is planning to go to summer camp. Just like entering anything, you feel safer if you know a few people.

Communication

When your kids come home in the afternoon, stay positive and let them know you’re proud of them and that all is going well. Encourage them to talk about what they’re learning, who they’re meeting, and even the parts of the camp they don’t like.

If your kiddo begins expressing concerns about camp, stop and let him or her speak freely. Truly listen to the fears or stresses about camp to see if you can help alleviate that stress. Be careful not to dismiss their fears.

Build Enthusiasm

If your child is still not really “feeling” the idea of camp, you can build their excitement by letting them find a new outfit to wear on the first day. (This alone is going to do wonders for our teen.)

You can also plan some cute lunches for them to take along or let them get involved in making a special treat to share with their fellow campers and camp leaders.

Walkthrough

Sit down and give your child a walkthrough of what they will experience. How are lunches and snacks served? What if they get hungry and it’s not snack time? What kind of activities can they participate in? How many kids will potentially be there? Try to find out as much out the camp as you can in advance and share this information with your child.

It’s a good idea to visit the center where the first summer camp will be held and let your child get a look at it. Seeing where they will spend their days can do a lot to reduce fear of the unknown and ease their worries.

Just remember to focus on the positives they can take away and listen to their concerns. They won’t know what to expect till they arrive at camp. And who knows? Maybe they’ll come away with a new outlook on learning!

How did you help your kids get ready for their first summer camp? Did things work out well? Share your experiences in the comments!

Need more summer fun for the kids? Check out these ideas!

These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

This fun solar system-themed edible playdough is a perfect sensory activity for summer!

Summer Books for Kids

And, for more summer fun, check out my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: parenting, summer, summer camp

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

May 28, 2018 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I’m not a big fan of insects, especially the ones that try to sneak into your house when the weather gets warm. I mean, if Mr. Centipede is willing to chip in on the mortgage, I might be open to it. Otherwise, that’s a no from me.

But I do love butterflies. It’s wonderful to see them fluttering around during the warmer months.

So for our newest coffee filter crafts for kids project, I thought we’d make a simple coffee filter butterfly craft!

Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft for Kids to Make!

These were so much fun and they only took a few minutes from beginning to end. Seriously.

Want to try more coffee filter crafts with your little ones? Don’t miss our coffee filter ladybug craft and our coffee filter sun craft for summer!

This super easy coffee filter butterfly craft is an adorable project for little ones!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

To make this easy coffee filter butterfly craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • One white basket coffee filter (you’ll need one per butterfly)
  • Colored craft sticks (one per butterfly)
  • Crayons
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Washable markers

Simple Coffee Filter Butterfly

To start, fold the coffee filter in half.

Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly

Then use the scissors to cut a triangular piece from each end. You’ll want to cut on an angle to make the “V” shape at the top and bottom.

Be sure to cut through both of the coffee filter halves. Otherwise, you’ll have wings on one side and a circular shape on the other.

Making a Simple Coffee Filter Butterfly

When you open up the filter, you should have this.

Making a Simple Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

Use a bright colored crayon to draw four circles on the wings: one at each corner.

Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

Color all around the circles with the crayon. (This is if you want to have white circles on your butterfly’s wings.)

Making an Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

Use a glue stick to spread glue on the back of a craft stick. Stick it firmly in the center of the coffee filter.

Simple Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

Add glue to the back of the coffee filter wings and press them gently onto a piece of construction paper. Once your butterflies are in place, add a set of antennae with a black marker.

Simple Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft for Kids

Done!

Fun Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

With our second butterfly, we added silver circle stickers on the wing spots. But you can color them a different color or use any stickers you like!

Did your kids love making this coffee filter butterfly craft? Take a look at these other easy craft projects!

Make this easy spring toilet roll butterfly craft with your kids! So fun and simple for little ones!

These easy sun crafts are so fun for summer arts and crafts with the kids!

Make this simple and cute coffee filter ladybug craft with the kids this spring!

And see more fun things to make on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: butterfly crafts, coffee filter crafts, coffee filter crafts for kids, crafts, summer

20 Fun and Easy Sun Crafts for Kids

May 14, 2018 by Selena Robinson 1 Comment

Welcome summer with this list of easy sun crafts kids can make!

Can you feel it? That’s summer in the air!

We’ve had an unusually cold and rainy spring here and I’m so psyched to finally see the sun again. Naturally, I had to find a list of easy sun crafts that would be perfect for welcoming summer (finally)!

When you’re working with preschoolers, these sun crafts would be excellent for learning about weather, the seasons, the solar system, and more. And if your kids are a bit older, these are perfect afternoon time fillers for those moments over summer break when they start to feel a little…restless.

Share these easy sun crafts with the kids this summer!

Take a look at this list of easy sun crafts to find some simple projects you can share with the kids this year. I know you’ll love them!

Want more summer activities to try with the family? Don’t miss our list of simple summer crafts you can make or our list of wonderful summer books to read together!

These easy sun crafts are so fun for summer arts and crafts with the kids!

20 Fun and Easy Sun Crafts for Kids

1. Coffee Filter Sun Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. DIY Garden Sundial – KC Edventures

3. Clothespin Sun Craft – Crafts On Sea

4. Jolly Sunshine Wand – Kids Craft Room

5. Layers of the Sun Paper Bowl – Red Ted Art

6. Upcycled Sun Crayons – Mama Smiles

7. Cardboard Sun Craft – The Preschool Toolkit

8. Tie-Dye Sun Suncatcher – Creative Family Fun

9. Paper Plate Sun Craft – Buggy and Buddy

10. Summer Suncatcher – Rainy Day Mum

20 Easy Sun Crafts for Kids

11. Painted Sun Craft – Adventures in Mommydom

12. Paper Mache Sun – Red Ted Art

13. Handprint Sun Wall Art – The Best Ideas for Kids

14. Handprint Sun Craft – The Preschool Toolbox

15. Doily Sun Craft – Crafts On Sea

16. Sun Paper Plate Puppet – The Inspiration Edit

17. Sunshine Paper Plate Craft – The Soccer Mom Blog

18. Yarn Wrapped Sun Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

19. Pony Bead Suncatcher – School Time Snippets

20. CD Summer Sun Craft – The Kindergarten Connection

Did you like these easy sun crafts? Don’t miss these other simple crafts for the kids!

Make this easy spring toilet roll butterfly craft with your kids! So fun and simple for little ones!

This super easy coffee filter flower craft is a perfect spring project for little ones!

This super easy coffee filter rainbow craft is a perfect spring craft to share with little ones!

See even more craft ideas on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: crafts, summer

Homeschool Unit Studies: Ice Cream Unit Study

July 6, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Ice Cream Unit Study
This ice cream unit study is a perfect way to keep kids excited about learning over the summer!

What kid doesn’t love ice cream? And there’s no way to make summer learning more fun than to learn about dessert, right?

So that’s why I put together a this Ice Cream unit study. Believe it or not, there are actually educational topics related to ice cream, especially chemistry. Of course, you can always make a taste-test graphing activity if you want to include math. (Totally going to do that one, I think.)

Read on to find some fun ice cream books, ice cream activities for kids, and easy ice cream recipes that you can use to make a fun ice cream unit kids will love! And if this unit study is a hit, don’t miss our beach unit study for even more summer fun!

This ice cream unit study is a perfect way to keep kids excited about learning over the summer!

Ice Cream Unit Study

This ice cream unit study is full of neat facts about ice cream history, fun ice cream activities for kids, and cool kids’ books about ice cream that your kids will go “bananas” for!

Ice Cream Notebooking Pages

Start this unit by picking up these free ice cream notebooking pages! They’re perfect for writing down the answers to the questions in the section below. Kids can also use them to write reports or come up with their own ice cream recipes to try!

Just click the image or the link below to get your copy of these free ice cream notebooking pages!

Ice Cream Notebooking Pages

>>>>> Ice Cream Dreams! Ice Cream Notebooking Pages <<<<<

Ice Cream Facts for Kids

Watch this video featuring facts about ice cream with your kids and see if they can answer the questions below:

1. What is the most popular flavor of ice cream? Answer: Vanilla

2. Which U.S. president was a big fan of ice cream? Answer: George Washington

3. How much money did George Washington spend on ice cream during the summer of 1790? Answer: $200 (worth $5000 today!)

4. Why was the bendy straw invented? Answer: To make drinking milkshakes easier

5. Name one kind of frozen treat served during ancient times. Answer: Ancient Grecians and Persians mixed snow with fruit; Ancient Chinese mixed rice with frozen milk

I had no idea that people have been enjoying frozen treats for so long! Super cool!

Make summer a fun time for learning with these neat ice cream activities for kids!

Ice Cream Activities for Kids:

After you and the kids learn about the history of ice cream, try some hands-on crafts, learning ideas, and recipes in your ice cream unit study with the following ice cream activities!

1. Ice Cream Shape Sorting Activity – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Ice Cream Math Activity – Fun-A-Day

3. Ice Cream Shop Play – Pre-K Pages

4. Melted Ice Cream Play Dough – Kids Activities Blog

5. Pass the Ice Cream Sharing Activity – Sunny Day Family

6. Ice Cream in a Bag – I Can Teach My Child

7. Ice Cream Dough Science Experiment – Lemon Lime Adventures

8. Ice Cream Letter Sounds Sorting – This Reading Mama

9. Puffy Paint Ice Cream Cone Craft – Crafty Morning

10. Make Ice Cream in a Coffee Can – Coffee Cups and Crayons

11. Ice Cream Number and Ten Frame Matching – Playdough to Plato

12. One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream – Happy Hooligans

13. Ice Cream Do-A-Dot Printables – Gift of Curiosity

Ice Cream Activities for Kids

14. Ice Cream Beginning Digraph Sort – The Letters of Literacy

15. Ice Cream Pattern Cards – Simply Learning Kids

16. Ice Cream Sundae Cupcakes – Frugal Mom Eh

17. Mad Scientist Ice Cream Lab – Left Brain Craft Brain

18. Sense of Sight Ice Cream Color Grading Activity – Gift of Curiosity

19. Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

20. Ice Cream Count and Match Game – The Measured Mom

21. Ice Cream Blend Puzzles – Playdough to Plato

22. No-Churn Funfetti Cake Batter Ice Cream – Spaceships and Laser Beams

23. Five Senses Ice Cream Taste Test – No Time for Flashcards

24. Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream Play Dough – Kids Activities Blog

25. Painting on Ice Cream – Tinkerlab

Add some reading practice to your ice cream unit study with these super cool ice cream books for kids!

Read some of these fun books about ice cream for kids to share with your children over the summer!

And make your own creamy treats using these super fun cookbooks featuring easy ice cream recipes for kids!

Ice Cream Recipes for Kids

This ice cream unit study is sure to be a big hit with your kids! Don’t forget to stock up on their favorite flavors before you get started!Ice Cream Unit Study for Kids

Don’t miss these other fun summer learning ideas!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

Summer Books for Kids

Get your early reader some fun in the sun reading practice with these printable summer printable sight word flashcards!

And follow my Unit Studies Pinterest board for even more awesome homeschool unit studies to try with the kids!

Fun Science Experiements Every Month

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Unit Studies Tagged With: homeschool unit studies, ice cream, ice cream unit, ice cream unit study, summer, unit studies

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

May 18, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s summer and that means it’s time to hit the high seas! Well, as close to the high seas as we get in the South….lol.

I’ve been on a motorboat before, but outside of that, I haven’t been on a boat at all. The notion of sailing out into the ocean with nothing solid underneath my feet makes me a tad…nervous.

But with this easy coffee filter sailboat craft, even sea-scary people like me can go sailing! And this is such a fun ocean-themed craft for kids to make along with parents!

Simple Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

If your children like this, don’t miss our other coffee filter crafts for kids, including our coffee filter beach ball craft! And make this summer the best one yet with our list of 50 summer crafts!

This cute coffee filter sailboat craft is a neat nautical craft for the kids!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

To make this coffee filter sailboat craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • One white basket coffee filter
  • Scissors
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Crayons
  • Colored pencils

Sailboat Coffee Filter Craft

Start by cutting the coffee filter in half. Then cut a little curve out of the center to form a half-moon shape. This will be the boat.

Cut the other half of the coffee filter in half again. Use one piece (a quarter of the whole filter) as the sail.

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Color the half-moon piece (the boat). I used bright yellow to make a boat that would stand out against the waves. But feel free to use any color you like.

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

Glue the boat and the sail onto a piece of construction paper. Be sure to glue the sail a bit higher than the top of the boat.

Easy Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Use a crayon or colored pencil to draw the pole that connects the sail and the boat.

Simple Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Now add a few sea details! Use colored pencils to draw a few waves, clouds, and seagulls!

Easy Sailboat Coffee Filter Craft

And we’re done!

Easy Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

She looks pretty seaworthy to me! What do you think?

Try these other fun learning ideas!

Make this DIY play sand for some beach fun at home!

Make an easy spring or summer project with this coffee filter sun craft that's simple enough for toddlers!

Get your early reader some fun in the sun reading practice with these printable summer printable sight word flashcards!

And see more simple art projects on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: coffee filter crafts, coffee filter sailboat craft, crafts, crafts for kids, easy crafts, sailboat craft, summer, summer crafts

50 Super Easy, Super Fun Summer Crafts for Kids!

May 16, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am not the craftiest mom. I like to knit and sew, but I usually take those interests as opportunities to get a break from being mom. Crafting with kids does a real number on my patience.

But it’s worth it to make crafts with children. It teaches them to produce their own artwork, it helps them to improve fine motor skills, and it helps me to become a more patient mom – something I desperately need.

I’ve been working on adding more crafts into our kids’ lives. For me, that means looking for the simplest, easiest projects I can find – especially with four kids getting involved!

And that’s why I’ve rounded up this list of 50 easy summer crafts for kids! These are all summer-themed, so they’re a great fit for any summer unit studies you’ll be doing! Plus, there are ideas for kids of all ages, including summer crafts for preschoolers and summer crafts for tweens!

If you love these, don’t miss this list of beach crafts for kids or this roundup of more simple summer crafts kids can try!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

50 Super Easy, Super Fun Summer Crafts for Kids:


1. Coffee Filter Baseball Craft -Look! We’re Learning!

2. Easy Seashell Craft for Preschoolers – Local Fun for Kids

3. Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

4. Summer Straw Shooter Craft – Red Ted Art

5. Summer Twig Ornaments – Happy Hooligans

6. Circle Suncatcher Craft – B-Inspired Mama

7. DIY Summer Memory Book – Creekside Learning

8. Cereal Bird Feeder – No Time for Flashcards

9. Popsicle Stick Picture Frame – Kids Activities Blog

10. Summer Sky Salt Painting – Coffee Cups and Crayons

11. Colorful Jellyfish Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

12. Seashell Ladybugs – Still Playing School

13. Ice Cream Handprint Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect

14. Squirt Gun Painting – Fireflies and Mud Pies

15. DIY Play Beach Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

16. Sandcastle Notecards – Inner Child Fun

17. Pine Cone Fireflies – Fireflies and Mud Pies

18. Toy Surfboard Craft – Play Trains

19. Tin Can Lanterns – Coffee Cups and Crayons

20. Footprint Flip Flops Art – Fun Handprint Art

21. Sponge Sailboat Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

22. Paper Plate Boat Craft – Non Toy Gifts

23. Summer Daisies Handprint Craft – Beauty Through Imperfection

24. Paper Plate Seagull – Local Fun for Kids

25. Seashell Jellyfish Craft – I Heart Arts and Crafts

See more awesome summer crafts for kids on page 2!

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: crafts, kids crafts, summer, summer crafts, summer crafts for kids

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

July 10, 2016 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Have you made it to the beach yet this year? We’re planning a quick trip to a local one in August, so I thought I’d look for some fun and adorable beach crafts for kids that we can make together before we leave!

What I love about studying the beach with kids is that the topic is so broad! You can learn about the sun, the ocean, ocean animals, beach sand, animals that live on the beach, seashells, ice cream, and so much more! So there are crafts for all these things below!

Read on to find some fun beach crafts you can try too!

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

1. Beach Diorama for Kids from Look! We’re Learning!

2. Puffy Paint Ocean Collage from ArtsyMomma

3. Seashell Keepsake Craft from Moms and Crafters

4. Beach-Themed Sand and Shell Art from Happiness is Homemade

5. Sand Footprint Craft from Paging Fun Mums

6. Newspaper Shark Craft from I Heart Crafty Things

7. Paper Plate Sun Craft from Buggy and Buddy

8. Starfish Ocean Button Craft from A Little Pinch of Perfect

9. Shell Sunflower Craft from Rhythms of Play

10. Sand Handprint Keepsakes from The Imagination Tree

11. DIY Beach Sand from Look! We’re Learning!

12. Cupcake Liner Sun Craft from I Heart Crafty Things

13. 3-Ingredient Ocean in a Bottle from Happy Hooligans

Fun Beach Crafts for Kids to Make

14. Paper Plate Seashell Craft from Artsy Crafty Mom

15. Sand in a Bottle Craft from Gift of Curiosity

16. Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft from Look! We’re Learning!

17. Popsicle Stick Mosaic Sun Craft from Kids Activities Blog

18. Cupcake Liner Lighthouse Craft from Sugar Aunts

19. DIY Seashell Mobile from Nurture Store

20. Egg Carton Ocean Craft from The Imagination Tree

21. Bubbling Shell Painting from Mess for Less

22. DIY Moon Sand from Look! We’re Learning!

23. Paper Plate Beach Ball Craft from Glued to My Crafts

24. Sun Craft Scissor Skills Activity from A Little Pinch of Perfect

25. Beach Keepsake Craft from Fireflies and Mudpies

Fun Beach Crafts for Kids

Need more summer learning ideas? Try these with your kids!

Summer Books for Kids

50 Free Summer Printables for Kids @ Look! We're Learning!

Your preschooler will love working on fine motor skills and number sense with these beach number 0-9 playdough mats!

Plus, get even more ideas on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest Board!

And don’t miss my All About Beaches Printable Pack – perfect for keeping kids learning over the summer!

All About Beaches Printable Pack

This post is part of the Summer Activities for Kids Blog Hop! Check out more summer fun for kids below!

Flower Suncatcher Nature Craft – Messy Little Monster

Make a Bee Bath – Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Water Play Car Wash – Play and Learn Everyday

Tic Tac Toe Races – Royal Baloo

Finding Dory Wind Sock Craft – The Gingerbread House

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: beach, beach crafts, beach crafts for kids, crafts, crafts for kids, fun crafts, kids craft ideas, kids crafts, summer, summer activities for kids, summer crafts, summer crafts for kids

10 Easy Ways to Have a Fun Summer with Your Kids

July 7, 2015 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Spending time together in the summer can seem like something that just comes naturally. But, unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Between busy summer activities, taking care of the home, and managing kids during summer break, moms can actually become even more frazzled than usual.

Kids can also lose inspiration as they get into a more relaxed summer schedule.

If you’re running low on inspiration for summer activities as a family, this list of 10 simple ways to have a fun summer can help!

10 Simple Ways to Have a Fun Summer with Kids

We have tried all of these with summer ideas with our kids over the years. And we loved every single one.

If you decide to plan your summer using any of these, let me know which ones were the biggest hits with your family!

Keep reading to see the full list. Plus, score a free summer bingo activity you can complete with the kids!

Looking for more summer fun? Take a look at our list of 50 summer books to share with early readers!

Make this summer one to remember with these easy ways to have a fun summer with kids!

10 Easy Ways to Have a Fun Summer with Kids

1. Get outside.

We live in the Deep South, so if you’re in a hot climate, I can understand why you might be a little hesitant to go outdoors in summer.

It’s hot. Hot beyond all belief.

But spending time outside is one of the simplest ways to have a fun summer with the kids.

We usually go outside early in the morning – right after breakfast. That way, we get some outside time without melting.

Going Outside with Kids During Summer

2. Have a backyard campout.

Summer nights are just perfect for camping out. If you have a decent-sized backyard, pitch a tent or two and sleep outside with the kids.

You get the experience of camping out – with the convenience of using your own bathroom.

Be sure to grill something for dinner and start a campfire for s’mores!

3. Plan a quick getaway.

You might not have the time (or funds) for a long summer vacation.

But if you have a free weekend, taking a getaway to a nearby destination can be an awesome way to reset with the kids.

We’ve found some beautiful spots within a few hours’ drive of our town. And, even when we didn’t plan to do anything “special”, we still had a great time.

Planning a Summer Trip with Kids

4. Hold an indoor movie marathon.

This is one of our favorite ways to have a fun summer. We literally do this every year.

Since we have four children, each one gets to choose a movie and we watch each one together. To make it into an event, we bring sleeping bags into the living room and have snacks the whole time.

It’s awesome.

5. Try a local summer camp.

I don’t like to have the kids scheduled for the entire summer, but spending a week at a summer camp is an annual highlight for us.

We’ve tried several with each of the kids, including computer engineering, swimming, and tennis. Once we find a camp they like, that becomes a regular for us.

If you’re new to summer camps, take a look at seven ways to help your kids get ready!

6. Add water play activities.

I would love to have a pool in our backyard. But we just don’t have the space.

We still plan water play with the kids, though. We just keep it very simple.

Running through the sprinkler, water balloon fights, and water painting are some of our regular summer activities.

And those are perfect for summer afternoons when it’s too hot to do anything else.

7. Try a “staycation”.

Take a week or two and live like a tourist in your own town with a “staycation”. We’ve done this a few times also and the kids loved it.

When you live in a city that has attractions for tourists, it’s easy to get so busy that you never actually visit them.

Let the kids pick a few places they’ve always wanted to go and get tickets to as many as possible.

Sightseeing in Your Town During Summer with Kids

8. Make DIY summer treats.

When you’re planning ways to have a fun summer with kids, you don’t have to look much further than ice cream and popsicles, right?

We don’t have an ice cream maker, but thankfully you can make plenty of no churn ice cream recipes. And the kids can help!

If you’re in the mood for something a little easier, try making some simple popsicle recipes and take them outside to eat!

9. Play a few classic childhood games.

How many classic games can you remember from your childhood?

I remember playing hopscotch, keep away, four square, freeze tag, dodgeball, and duck duck goose. (I learned most of those in elementary P.E. class.)

Kids don’t get a chance to play as many of these games now as we did growing up. But our kids have loved learning to play them all.

Actually, I think I might have had a little more fun playing those games with them than they did.

10. Slow it down.

And, finally, when you’re planning your fun summer, remember to slow it down as much as you can.

Overscheduling makes for a miserable break and that’s the opposite of what we want for our kids.

Slow Summer Bingo Activity

To help with planning a fun, relaxed summer, try this printable Slow Summer Bingo activity board!

It has several activities that are low-prep and perfect for spending time with the kids over the summer.

Plus, there’s a pretty summer-themed wall art printable you can hang on the wall!

To get your free copy of this Slow Summer Bingo Activity board and wall art, click the image or the link below to have it sent directly to your inbox!

You’ll also get our weekly newsletter – coming this Sunday!

Click here to get your free printable

>>> Slow Summer Bingo Activity <<<

Don’t miss these other fun summer ideas for kids!

This fun confetti ocean slime recipe is perfect for summer sensory play!
This simple paper bee craft is a fun way to make an easy spring or summer craft with kids!
Keep learning all summer with this list of 40 at home summer learning activities for kids!

Filed Under: Family Life, Outdoor Play, Parenting Tagged With: kids, parenting, summer

Activities for the Book Hello Ocean: Beach Shoebox Diorama

June 16, 2014 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

I’m originally from the coast and I miss the beach so much. In fact, I think it actually intensifies as I get older.

So when summer time approaches, my mind lightly turns to thoughts of warm sand, salt air, and waves.

Unfortunately, we live several hours inland now, so a trip to the beach is not always feasible.

But we can always head to the shore with a beach shoebox diorama activity!

Sandy Beach Diorama Craft

This was such a fun summer activity and it only took a few minutes. Plus, it was a great tie-in for a beautiful beachy read-aloud!

If you enjoy this project with the kids, be sure to try our simple Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft!

This simple beach shoebox diorama craft is a fun way for kids to create their own sandy scene!

Beach Shoebox Diorama Activity

To make this beach shoebox diorama, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Empty shoebox
  • Crayons
  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Cotton balls
  • Play sand (If you want to make your own, try our DIY play sand recipe!)
  • A copy of our Day at the Beach Diorama Pack (See below)

We decided to read the book Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan to introduce our beach theme.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

I love this book. It’s very simple for young readers and the pictures are absolutely beautiful.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

The poetry does an excellent job of capturing the feel of a day at the beach, right down to the taste of the salt water.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

After we read the book, we decided to put together a shoebox diorama featuring a beach scene.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

This was another of our super simple activities.

We only needed a shoebox, some crayons, scissors, glue, and our printable Day at the Beach Diorama Pack!

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

The kids colored the bottom and sides of the shoebox using the colors mentioned in the story: grey, blue, and green.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

We cut out the background scenes…

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

and pasted them to the bottom of the shoebox.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Our background is all done, so it’s time to add a few props!

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

We cut out each upright scene image, including the bottom square, as one piece.

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Then we folded the bottom square under to make the image stand up.

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

After we used a stretched cotton ball as a cloud, we poured a little play sand in the bottom and added our upright images to get a feel for the beach in our dining room! 🙂

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Scroll down to get your printable beach shoebox diorama pack!

Don’t miss these other posts!

Make this DIY play sand for some beach fun at home!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

The Best Beach Books for Kids

To see even more fun summer crafts, follow my Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

If you’d like to complete this activity with your littles, grab our free Day at the Beach Diorama Pack by clicking the image or the link below to download it!

Learning Printables from Look! We're Learning!

>>>> Day at the Beach Diorama Pack <<<<

This post is part of the “A Book and a Big Idea: Summer” linkup at iHomeschool Network! Click on over to read the great book activities of our fellow bloggers!

Summer Book and Big Idea

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: beach crafts, beach shoebox diorama, crafts for kids, kids crafts, shoebox diorama, shoebox diorama printables, summer, summer crafts

DIY Beach Play Sand Sensory Activity for Kids

July 29, 2013 by Selena Robinson 9 Comments

We usually do a family vacation in the summer, but the funds were just not there for it this year. Boo.

So we had to find a way to bring the beach to us. And that’s how we ended up making  this DIY beach play sand!

Our kids are huge sensory seekers, so this soft and moldable play sand was a wonderful sensory experience for them.

Fun Play Beach Sand Sensory Activity for Kids

I will say that it can be rather…messy, so take my advice and lay a few towels down before you get started.

After that, it’s a snap to make and they’ll play with it for hours!

If your kids love this, try our fun Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft or read some sandy stories with our list of Beach Books for Kids!

Make this simple DIY play beach sand recipe to share a summer sensory activity with the kids!

DIY Beach Play Sand Recipe

To make this beach play sand sensory activity, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Whole wheat flour
  • Baby oil
  • Silicone baking molds
  • Large container for holding the “sand” (We just used our roasting pan.)

How to Make Play Beach Sand

We started off by reading the classic book Curious George Goes to the Beach.

In the story, George explores the water, builds sandcastles, and (of course) makes a mess by being curious.

Curious George Goes to the Beach
Then we looked at some pictures of professional sand castles. The things people can do with sand and spray bottles are just incredible.

A Proper Sand Castle on Jersey

C/O: Tim Jenkinson

Sleeping Beauty Castle

C/O: Jeroen Kransen

Naturally, the kids wanted to play around with some sand of their own.

To make our own “sand”, we used a classic play sand recipe featuring one part baby oil to eight parts flour.

I decided to use whole wheat flour, since it looked more like authentic sand than white flour.

DIY Play Sand Recipe

I had to work the baby oil in with my hands to get it to distribute evenly. It was actually quite therapeutic.

DIY Sensory Sand Play

Then we dropped in some silicone baking cups and a few bento molds and the kids got to work!

DIY Beach Play Sand

I just stuck our “sand” in a roasting pan, but you could easily make this on the driveway or in a sandbox.

How to Make Sensory Sand

See how well it sticks together?

It works beautifully with baking molds, but if you have buckets or sandcastle molds, this would be fun to use with those as well.

DIY Sensory Play Sand Recipe

The kids absolutely loved it! And it literally took five minutes. Beach fun without sand in your shorts!

Make this DIY play sand for some beach fun at home!

Love this activity? Don’t miss these other fun summer ideas!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

Super Easy Farm Shoebox Diorama Craft

The Best Beach Books for Kids

This post is part of the Summer Book and a Big Idea linkup from iHomeschool Network! Click on over to read more book-based learning ideas from my fellow bloggers!

Summer Book and Big Idea

Filed Under: Fun Activities for Kids, Sensory Activities Tagged With: beach play sand, diy beach play sand, diy play sand, summer, summer activities

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »
Hi! I'm Selena, a teacher and a veteran homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
About Me Contact Terms of Use Privacy Policy Places I Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram
Homeschool Printables Unit Studies Shop the Store
Copyright ©2023, Look! We're Learning!. All Rights Reserved. Design by Pixel Me Designs